Are Beefsteak Tomatoes Determinate or Indeterminate? Here’s What You Actually Need to Know Before You Plant 🍅

Beefsteak tomatoes are massive, juicy, and a showstopper on any summer plate. But if you’re planning to grow them, there’s one question you need answered before you stake your claim in the garden: Are beefsteak tomatoes determinate or indeterminate?

Let’s cut through the fluff. I’ve grown more than a few of these over the years—and I’ll tell you what actually matters when it comes to supporting them, when you’ll get fruit, and how much space you’ll really need.

🧇 Most Beefsteak Tomatoes Are Indeterminate—Here’s What That Means

Indeterminate tomatoes don’t know when to quit. They keep growing, flowering, and producing fruit all season until frost shuts them down ❄️. That means your beefsteak tomato plant is going to turn into a towering, vining monster if you let it—and you’ll be harvesting tomatoes gradually throughout the season.

Expect:

• A 6+ foot tall plant 🌳
• Ongoing blooms and fruit set
• Heavy fruit (often over 1 lb each)
• A serious need for strong support (stakes, cages, or trellises)

That continuous growth means you’ll need to tie them up, prune strategically, and stay on top of watering and feeding. But the reward? Big, flavorful slicers that are perfect for sandwiches and burgers all summer long 🍔.

❓ Are There Determinate Beefsteak Varieties?

Yes—but they’re rare ⚠️. Most beefsteak tomatoes, especially the heirlooms like Brandywine or Cherokee Purple, are indeterminate.

However, there are a few determinates out there if you’re short on space or want a more compact plant. Look for names like \”Bush Beefsteak\” or other hybrid varieties that specify determinate or semi-determinate. These usually:

• Grow to about 3-4 feet tall
• Set most of their fruit at once
• Mature slightly earlier (some in ~62-70 days)
• Need less staking, though some still get heavy

I tried growing a bush variety once for a container experiment. It worked, but the tomatoes weren’t as large or as flavorful as the big indeterminate types I usually grow in the ground.

🌿 How I Grow Indeterminate Beefsteak Tomatoes

• Start early indoors. Beefsteaks take longer to mature. I start my seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost.
• Use tall, sturdy stakes. I drive 6-8 foot stakes deep into the bed and tie up the main stem as it grows.
• Prune for airflow and size. I remove suckers to keep the plant to 1-2 main vines.
• Water deep, mulch well. Big tomatoes need consistent moisture. I mulch to keep it steady and reduce cracking.
• Feed throughout the season. Compost + a balanced tomato fertilizer does wonders.

If you skip the support or let it sprawl on the ground, expect disease, rot, and way fewer harvests.

⚡ Why Indeterminate Beefsteaks Are Worth It

These aren’t your quick, tidy, container tomatoes. But if you want:

• Giant slicers for real tomato sandwiches
• Complex flavor that actually tastes like summer
• A season-long harvest from a single plant

…then beefsteaks are worth the space and effort 🍅👌.

They may take 80+ days to start producing, but they don’t stop until you do.

💚 A Few Favorites (All Indeterminate):

• Brandywine — Classic heirloom, huge and flavorful
• Cherokee Purple — Deep color, rich taste
• Mortgage Lifter — Giant fruit, fun backstory
• Black Krim — Sweet and smoky
• Big Rainbow — Striking color, balanced taste

I rotate through a few each year just to keep things interesting.

🧑‍🌾 Should You Grow Determinate Beefsteaks?

Maybe—if:

• You’re growing in a container
• You want one big harvest
• You don’t want to deal with staking or pruning much

Just know you’ll probably trade off some flavor, size, or total yield.

🌧️ Watch for Cracking and Blossom End Rot

These are common issues with big-fruited tomatoes. Consistent watering is key. Mulch helps.

Also: Don’t let them ripen too long on the vine or they’ll split wide open after a rain 🌧️.

🏡 Final Word

Beefsteak tomatoes are almost always indeterminate. They’re big, sprawling, and high-maintenance—but if you have the space and the patience, they’ll reward you with tomatoes that make store-bought ones taste like cardboard.

Just give them room, give them love, and tie them up like they’re trying to escape 🧇🧐.

Happy planting.